Pierce COVID-19 Faculty & Staff Updates

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Important Pierce Faculty & Staff Updates During COVID-19

Faculty FAQs: http://pshare.piercecollege.edu/admin/ase/SS/Academic%20Affairs/Faculty%20FAQ.docx

August 6, 2020 – Cranium Cafe Gives Students Access to Remote Student Services

CRANIUM CAFE ACCESS: To help students connect with Student Services remotely and get questions answered and issue resolved, we have a new Student Services web page to access Cranium Cafe and interact with our staff in real time. Visit http://www.piercecollege.edu/pierce_students_divx.asp and let your students know about it.

Open enrollment is underway with three-and-a-half weeks to go for students to sign up for Fall 2020 classes at L.A. Pierce College. Classes are offered ONLINE for Fall, which begins on August 31, 2020.

Classes, services and business will continue to be delivered in a remote environment for our safety.

Students can choose classes here: http://www.piercecollege.edu/schedules/index.asp on our Schedules Page under Fall Semester.

To enroll, sign in to the Student Portal at https://mycollege.laccd.edu.

If students don't have a Student I.D. to log in, then they need to apply to Pierce College. There's still time to apply and get one. Go to the home page top right and click “Apply Online” or go to http://www.laccd.edu/Students/opencccapply/applylapc/Pages/default.aspx

Pierce College’s physical campus remains closed to all but essential infrastructure during this time in accordance with health and safety guidelines for education.

June 22, 2020 - Six Days Left to Vote Pierce for Best Community College

Let's keep up our winning streak to get six years running as the Best Community College in the Daily News' Readers Best Contest 2020. You have to vote to make it happen. Vote now through June 28!

NEW THIS YEAR: To qualify, you must vote for at least 5 different entries for your ballot to count! Your 5 votes can be spread out among any of the categories or all in the same category.

How? Go to this link http://dailynews.readerschoice.la/

Click the "PLACES" Box. Scroll down to #20, "Community College" and type in "Pierce College.”
Then move to #17, "College Extension Program" and type in "Pierce College Extension.”
Then choose three more of your favorites in the Valley in any of the categories of Food & Drink, Goods & Services, People, Places, & Miscellaneous.

We know Pierce is the best -- let's tell everyone!

June 11, 2020 - New Faculty and Staff Videos Uploaded on Facebook and YouTube

We have uploaded 30-second congratulatory videos to the Class of 2020 from Faculty and Staff in a new 9 min. file on both facebook and youtube.

In case you missed the June 9th showing of Pierce College's Virtual Recognition Ceremony for our graduates in the class of 2020, you can still view it. Visit the official Pierce College Facebook or YouTube channels at these links: Pierce College Facebook or LA Pierce YouTube. No account or log in is needed to view.

June 4, 2020 - View Pierce College's Virtual Recognition Ceremony on Facebook and You Tube

To Our Pierce Community,

We invite you to view Pierce College's Virtual Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. -- a time to celebrate our graduates' tremendous accomplishments. You will be able to view the event on our Facebook or YouTube at these links: Pierce College Facebook or LA Pierce YouTube. No account or log in is needed to view and the ceremony is prerecorded.

The ceremony begins with a District presentation and guest speakers, followed by the Pierce College virtual recognition of our graduates. Seven hundred Pierce students signed up to participate.

June 2, 2020 - Message from LACCD Board President Hoffman and Chancellor Rodriguez
"In Solidarity We Stand"

Dear LACCD Colleagues,

We are writing to you, our LACCD faculty, staff and students, to express our pain and support during this time. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, can no longer be ignored.

This nation has a historic and harmful disease called racism. This pandemic has endured for centuries, and the time to heal and cure it is now. We stand in solidarity with our Black employees and students and will not tolerate these continued acts of violence – we stand with you, we hear you, we support you.

As institutions of higher education, we call for justice in the deaths of George, Breonna, Ahmaud and the countless other victims of police criminality. However, we know that this is simply not enough. We must be deliberate and purposeful in educating around being anti-racist. We must fully acknowledge that Black lives do indeed matter in the way we build our schools and colleges to what we teach in our classrooms, from the way our streets are policed to equitable access to healthcare. Until economic opportunities are afforded to Black and disenfranchised communities, there is no justice.

We recognize in the midst of all of this, including a global pandemic, there are finals to be taken, classes to be completed, work to be done, and we thank you all for your empathy, resiliency and commitment to our mission during this challenging time.

We are all empowered as educators. Let’s use this power and influence to make lasting, systemic change!

In Solidarity We Stand,
Macintosh HD:Users:stainetd:Desktop:JOBS:SIGNATURES:Staff:Chancellor:Chancellor-Rodriguez-INFORMAL.png

Andra Hoffman Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Board President Chancellor

May 31, 2020 - Temporary Enhanced Restriction to Campus Access - June 1-3, 2020
Message from the Pierce President

Colleagues,

California Governor Newsom, the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti have all declared new states of emergency for our region and, in response, we are further securing our college campuses. We are asking all staff to telecommute Monday through Wednesday of this week, June 1 – 3, 2020.

During this time, we will assess the security of our colleges and District facilities daily and may call certain staff back sooner, or extend the full telecommute as needed. Essential employees may be asked to return to work during this time for emergency or other urgent duties. Any staff member that has not specifically been directed to work on site during this time may only enter with the authorization of the College President.

Please be sure to check your email daily for any updates.

Alexis S. Montevirgen, Ed.D.
College President
Los Angeles Pierce College

May 28, 2020 – Message from Chancellor Rodriguez
LACCD Will Continue to Operate in Remote Platforms

Dear LACCD Faculty, Staff and Administrators:

I hope this message finds you and your families well and safe. In moving forward as one District, the goal has been to prioritize the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, while maintaining the integrity of our teaching, learning and business environments, and sustaining operational continuity of a very large and complex organization.

CALIFORNIA IS SLOWLY RE-OPENING

By now, you have heard news reports about how California, including Los Angeles County, is moving forward with recovery and re-opening plans. It is good to see our parks and beaches re-opening, along with stores, restaurants and other low-risk businesses.

The District’s Emergency Operations Center is closely monitoring the situation and we are actively working with our nine colleges to develop our own recovery plans. It is important to remember, however, that we remain subject to the orders of state and local health officials.

LACCD REMAINS RESPONSIVE TO THE STAY AT HOME ORDERS

On May 26, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued detailed new orders and, while many things have changed, the local re-opening of schools, colleges and universities are still not allowed at this time.

LACCD will continue to operate in remote learning platforms and remote business environments until it is determined that our colleges can safely repopulate.

Any in-person activities at our colleges remain limited to core personnel for essential functions only. We must all follow the established guidelines for personal protective equipment (PPE), including cloth facial coverings, and physical distancing.

Like you, I am looking forward to when the COVID-19 public health emergency is over. In order for that to happen, we must be resolved to do all we can to help prevent the spread of this virus and keep us all safe.

Thank you all for your uncommon dedication to our students and our District. We will get through this, and we’ll be stronger and more unified as a result.

LACCD Proud. You are the best of us.

With admiration and respect,

Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor

May 27, 2020 - Zoom 5.0 Security Upgrade Required by May 30
You won't get in to Zoom after May 30 until you upgrade

It is IMPORTANT that you be sure you upgrade to Zoom 5.0 software before May 30 or you won’t be able to log into any Zoom meetings. Below is Zoom's announcement, which has a link to download the software. Don’t forget to update on your computer AND any other devices you use for Zoom (phone, tablet, etc.)

Announcement and Info Page for Zoom Users – Upgrade to Zoom 5.0
https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/zoom-v5-0.html

Zoom 5.0 Download link:
To upgrade your Zoom, please visit zoom.com/download

Both the LACCD and Shannon Krajewski of Pierce College’s Center for Professional Excellence have sent you this information in your email on Tuesday, May 27.

This week: Get Up to Speed with Zoom - Many of you are asking for more help with Zoom. No problem!

Since Zoom is where many of us are living these days, the more we know about how to zip around in there, the better, right? It’s worth it to carve out a few minutes, or an hour, to get familiar with the technology rather than stumbling and wasting time in every meeting trying to get it right.

After you upgrade to Zoom 5.0, it’s time to sharpen the saw (a.k.a. brush up on your skills). This 4-minute video gives you a great overview of Zoom. Want some cool tips? Here’s a 12-minute video featuring “Seven Zoom Meeting Tips Every User Should Know!” Or, if you are looking for more, there’s a course in the Vision Resource Center called “Learning Zoom.”

May 11, 2020 - LACCD Letter Inviting our Class of 2020 to "Virtual Recognition Ceremony" on June 9 at 6 p.m.
For Your Information - and see your Faculty and Staff email from the President's Office

Update 5/21: Submissions are now closed. We'll virtually see you at the Ceremony!

Dear Class of 2020:

"Resilient Times for Brilliant Minds" is the theme for the 2020 LACCD Virtual Recognition Ceremony, hosted on June 9 by each of the nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District in celebration of your achievements as a member of the 2020 graduating class. Pierce College's Ceremony begins at 6 p.m.

Yes, we understand that the Virtual Recognition Ceremony is not a substitute for the excitement and joy of an in-person ceremony. Please know that each campus will be inviting you to its 2021 in-person ceremony so that you will also have the opportunity to fully participate in a traditional Commencement exercise.

This email contains all the information that you'll need if you choose to be part of the festivities (and we hope that you do). As a reminder, all the "Frequently Asked Questions"--which are updated as needed--can be found here on the LACCD website.

Below you'll find the step-by-step instructions for participation. However, don't delay in submitting all your information, because we have a "hard and fast" deadline of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20.

ONE. Make your video. You have the opportunity to make a ten-second video that will be included in your College's ceremony. The details are in the attachment labeled "LACCD Video Recording Instructions." Follow the steps outlined, and when you get to section #5 that says "Delivery," you'll use one of the links below for your College.

Also at this link is an opportunity to RSVP and to provide information about your name as you want it to appear in the Ceremony, as well as help for your College announcers with pronunciation if necessary. Be sure that you've also included a correct mailing address.

Student RSVP & Video Upload Link for LA Pierce College: https://form.jotform.com/201274481870152

Remember that you graduate from only one college: the one you've identified as your "home institution." If you're not sure, you need to confirm by contacting Admissions and Records at the college that you think is your home institution.

TWO. Make your Grad Slide. The Grad Slide will include your picture, your name, pertinent information (e.g., primary major), and a short quote, if you wish. The Slide is shown, along with your video, when your name is announced. Information about Grad Slides will come in a separate email from Grad Images, so be sure that the email doesn't accidentally go into your junk file.

THREE. Plan your celebration. We encourage you to hold viewing parties so that friends and family can share in your accomplishments. Two attachments will be sent in your college email along with this letter to provide you more information.

"Virtual Recognition Ceremony Viewing Instructions"--Provided here are the links for how to view through Facebook or YouTube. One slide shows a blank for time of the ceremony. This is the time that the video will be officially available on June 9. Since the time is different for the nine different colleges, just go to your home institution's website and you'll find an announcement.
"How to Celebrate in Social Distance Style"--Take a look at the many great ideas for making a party of the day and creating a celebration at home.

If you've any questions about your local ceremony, please reach out to the Commencement Chair for your campus: LA Pierce College Dean William Marmolejo, marmolwa@piercecollege.edu

Don't forget to visit our FAQ on our Virtual Recognition Ceremony here: http://laccd.edu/About/News/Pages/Virtual-Recognition-Ceremony.aspx

On behalf of all of us in the Los Angeles Community College District, we take great pride in your achievements and recognize your tenacity in completing your program during this unprecedented time. We hope that you'll join us in making the Virtual Recognition Ceremony a true celebration of what you've accomplished.

Sincerely,

The President Tri-Chairs of the LACCD Virtual Recognition Ceremony:

Dr. Seher Awan, Los Angeles Southwest College
Dr. James Limbaugh, West Los Angeles College
Dr. Katrina VanderWoude, Los Angeles Trade Tech College

May 5, 2020 - New Process to Submit College Website Requests

The LACCD has gathered all the college web architects and designers together under the District umbrella, and now has a new process to support our website needs.

Albert Saryan, LACCD Systems and Programming Manager, has announced:

Please send all website requests and inquiries to: webrequest@laccd.edu

For tracking, please include your college initials in the email subject line.
Example: LAPC-Student Services Web Page Upgrade

Once submitted, a service ticket will be created that will allow our team to get notified and track the request to completion. Our entire web services team will be monitoring the requests and assisting our stakeholders.

According to Saryan, this new process arises out of our "Web Services Unification transition" and "will give visibility and transparency to all the web related tasks and projects District-wide. As part of our enhanced procedure we will be able to analyze the rate and complexity of the requests. Our team is dedicated to making sure all requests are completed. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Thank you."

Albert Saryan
Systems and Programming Manager
Los Angeles Community College District
770 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Office: 213-891-2258 | Mobile: 213-675-2092 | Fax: 213-891-2020
e-Mail: saryana@laccd.edu
CITY / EAST / HARBOR / MISSION / PIERCE / SOUTHWEST / TRADE-TECH / VALLEY / WEST

April 29, 2020 - Safety Advisory: No Campus Activities During Pandemic
From the LACCD Emergency Operations Center

Effective: May 1, 2020. No on-campus activities/events will be available at any of the nine LACCD colleges, including City, East, Harbor, Mission, Pierce, Southwest, Trade-Tech, Valley and West, plus the ELAC South Gate Campus, the Van de Kamp Innovation Center, Mission’s Sunland-Tujunga Satellite and the District Office.

There will be no gatherings of more than two (2) people and those people are expected to exercise social distancing of at least six (6) feet apart.

If something must be distributed on campus or at a District facility, there can be no direct contact and the distributor-distributee must be at least 15 feet apart, such as one who drives up in a vehicle, pops the trunk open, and the distributor drops the pick-up in the trunk.

Any exception to this policy may only be approved by the College President or the appropriate site authority on a single case basis and must comply with all applicable Executive Orders, Public Health Orders and District policies and procedures. This Safety Advisory will remain in place until further notice.

For more COVID-19 Updates from the LACCD, visit
http://laccd.edu/About/News/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx

April 28, 2020 - Summer and Fall Sessions We Be Offered Remote, Says LACCD Chancellor

In an email to all employees at 11:35 a.m., LACCD Chancellor Rodriguez wrote, in part:

"Given the present health and safety restrictions, all summer session classes, scheduled to begin June 15, 2020, and all fall semester classes will be offered in remote learning/online environments, at this point, with the possibility of returning for a limited number of “hard to convert” courses/programs, if health and safety allow at any point in the semester. Student support services and most of the District’s business operations will continue to be conducted in similar remote service environments.

We are mindful of those classes that have been “had to convert” to remote teaching and learning. We have been working with state agencies and faculty leaders to identify flexibility, simulations and solutions for laboratory, clinical, and other hands-on course and program requirements.

We ask for your patience and support as we work through these issues. Some spring semester classes, especially in the allied health and sciences, and career education areas may need to be extended into the summer session or modified to satisfy course and program requirements."

April 23, 2020 - Faculty FAQ List is Here
From Academic Affairs

Academic Affairs has compiled a useful list of answers to the 20 most pressing questions faculty have asked and we are introducing them today as Faculty FAQs. Once clicked, this document will download to your device or computer. At Faculty FAQS, you will find Q&As addressing Campus Issues, Student Outreach, Health Center, Class Concerns, Grading and more, including:

What are the protocols for making a visit to the campus?

Who do I contact if I need IT support?

What should I do if a student has been unresponsive to emails and not participating in Canvas?

What are some resources available to students who share that they are struggling with basic needs?

Do faculty initiated drops also default to an “EW” grade?

If I learn that one of my students is exposed to COVID-19, what should I do?

Faculty FAQs: http://pshare.piercecollege.edu/admin/ase/SS/Academic%20Affairs/Faculty%20FAQ.docx

April 22, 2020 - Faculty, Sign Up to Get Certified to Teach Online

PierceOnLine will be offering a training series designed for faculty who want to get certified to teach online. The four-week series, Teaching Online counts for @one Introduction to Online Teaching and Learning. The training series takes place Monday, April 27-Friday, May 22. This training takes place in the Canvas Environment and is completely ONLINE

***This course is the second training series of two necessary to teach online. Priority will be given to faculty who have successfully completed the Introduction to Canvas training AND who are scheduled to teach this summer***

Course Description
Built upon the standards of the California Community College Distance Education policies and procedures, this course will instruct faculty how to design an effective online class to maximize student success and retention. During this class we will focus on teaching strategies and practices that will meet federal and state regulations as well as accreditation requirements. Topics include regular effective contact, student authentication, correspondence courses vs. online courses, copyright laws, accessibility requirements, instructional technology tools, student learning outcomes, and effective online discussions and assessments.

Learning Outcome
Participating faculty member will demonstrate the ability to create an online course using the Canvas learning management system.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the course, participating faculty member will be able to produce:

Welcome Letter, Syllabus, and specific class policies
Learning Module with SLOs, Video Announcement, Content and Content Resources, Lecture, Traditional Assessment, and Non-Traditional Assessment with Rubric, all of which align with the SLOs
Action Plan for Course Design, Delivery, and Effective Contact
Instructional Materials that comply with Section 508 (Accessibility) and Copyright Laws
Instructional Materials using technology tools that promote student engagement, participation, and success

Click below to sign up for the training (you need to be signed into email in order to access in Microsoft Forms):

Fill | Teaching Online course: April 27-May 22

This training takes place in the Canvas Environment and is completely ONLINE. Requirements: Priority will be given to those who have already completed the mutli-week course, "Intro to Canvas" and those who have summer 2020 assignments. The first 40 people who meet these requirements will be enrolled and notified through the Vision Resource Center.

Wendy Bass, PhD
Distance Education Coordinator
Pierce College
bassw@piercecollege.edu
http://online.piercecollege.edu/
818.712.2619
https://www.name-coach.com/wendy-bass

April 17, 2020 - LACCD Emergency Operations Center Safety Advisory: Essential Worker Social Distancing

In order to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 among the Los Angeles Community District’s facilities and colleges, including satellite campus facilities and the District’s Educational Services Center, the District is enforcing this Essential Worker Social Distancing Protocol, which is adopted from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Social Distancing Guide published April 6, 2020 online at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/GuidanceSocialDistancing.pdf

ALL LACCD facilities and colleges are physically closed to all but essential workers.

Protective cloth face coverings are mandatory upon entry for all personnel.

ESSENTIAL WORKER SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOCOLS TO BE USED AT ALL TIMES WHILE ONSITE AT ANY LACCD FACILITIY OR COLLEGE:

1. Always keep in mind, “safer at home orders” to determine whether you need to be physically at any LACCD facility or college
2. Avoid public transportation services if possible
3. Avoid any place where more than 10 people are together
4. Maintain a minimum distance of at least six (6) feet apart from others
5. Limit your foreseeable exposure in small enclosed areas:
a. Take stairs instead of elevators or ride alone
b. Use phones, Zoom, text messages or emails to communicate to coworkers
c. Do not meet in small conference rooms
d. Be mindful of narrow corridors and portals; wait for others to pass
e. Plan your routes in advance to the extent possible to avoid others
f. Consider only one person at a time in restrooms, where possible.
6. Wash your hands frequently, at least every 30 minutes, preferred, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or hand wipes periodically
7. Keep work areas clean, including phones, desks, keyboards and other devices.

Security personnel will be equipped to provide limited personal protective equipment (PPE) to essential workers, but are authorized to restrict access to District facilities and colleges in the event such equipment is not available or persons seeking entrance to any LACCD facility or college do not already have their own PPE. This Advisory is subject to change and revision as further information becomes available. The full Safety Advisory is at http://laccd.edu/About/News/Documents/Faculty-and-Staff/Safety%20Advisory%20-%20COVID-19%20Social%20Distancing%20Protocol%20-%20Final%20-%20Screen.pdf

April 17, 2020 - LACCD Emergency Operations Center Safety Advisory: Use of Face Coverings

LACCD REQUIREMENTS: In response to the City of Los Angeles Worker Protection Order issued on April 7 and revised on April 10, all employees should utilize their mandated cloth face coverings when in public areas within the City. When on District property, all employees must wear cloth or other non-medical grade face coverings for employee protection against COVID-19 in “low exposure risk” areas (e.g., outdoors and inside of clean buildings). Vendors and any visitors deemed essential are also advised that cloth face coverings are required while at District facilities or the colleges.

This Worker Protection Order provides instruction to the City’s essential workers who are engaged in “non-medical” activities to wear “non-medical grade cloth face coverings” which should help curb the spread of COVID-19, by preventing the transmission of respiratory droplets (aerosols) that may contain the virus.

For the full Safety Advisory Update on the Use of Face Coverings and the City Order, please see http://laccd.edu/About/News/Documents/Faculty-and-Staff/Safety%20Advisory%20-%20Use%20of%20Face%20Coverings%20in%20Public%20to%20Reduce%20Exposure%20to%20COVID-19%20Exposures%20-%20Final%20-%20Screen.pdf

April 13, 2020 - Campus Visit Guidelines for Faculty and Staff

We understand that occasionally you will need to come on campus. By adhering to the following guidelines your trip will be better facilitated:

All visits to the campus will be restricted to no longer than one hour.
You must schedule your visit with your department chair and dean if you are faculty. If you are classified you must schedule with your manager/supervisor and dean.
You must have your LACCD ID
You must be wearing a mask when you arrive on campus and wear it for the duration of your visit.
We encourage you to bring hand sanitizer. Gloves will be available at the sheriff check-in.
You must check in and out with the sheriff at the check-in located at the Winnetka entrance.
Once a person has entered an office, no one can be allowed in for 72 hours. Therefore, it is important that you check IN and OUT with the sheriff so times can be tracked by facilities.

April 13, 2020 – PierceOnLine Team Announces New Resources and Drop-In Canvas Support Hours for Faculty

Just a reminder that the PierceOnLine team is here to support you tomorrow and the rest of the semester. We have a great resource, LAPC Faculty Canvas Resources that you can check out when you have some questions.

You should have received an email sent Sunday evening, April 12, with Canvas Trainings and support hours for this week, April 13-17. Click on the zoom link in the attachment to enter the room.

There is a new feature that we have enabled in Canvas called “Direct Share”, this feature allows faculty to use Direct Share to send an assignment to another instructor.

As an instructor, you can use Direct Share to share individual assignments in your course with other instructors at your institution. You can also use Direct Share to copy an individual assignment to an external site. When you share an assignment, any assets within that assignment (images, files, etc.) will be included in the shared file.

To learn more, please visit Direct Share Canvas self-help page.

Wendy Bass, PhD
Distance Education Coordinator
bassw@piercecollege.edu
http://online.piercecollege.edu/
https://www.name-coach.com/wendy-bass

April 9, 2020 – Zoom Security Concerns and Next Steps
From Patrick Luce, Chief Information Security Officer, LACCD

On March 11, 2020, Chancellor Rodriquez announced that LACCD would move to an online education model for as many District classes as possible, to begin March 18, 2020. In support of that directive, the LACCD Office of Information Technology (OIT) enabled the Zoom video conference system, provided by the California Community College Chancellor’s (CCC) Office, to assist in the District’s online efforts.

Zoom was integrated with Canvas and enabled for all District classes and faculty in a few short days.

Due to recent press about Zoom’s security and privacy issues, the OIT has been asked by some LACCD personnel if Zoom is safe to use for online classes and meetings. The OIT currently recommends that Zoom continue to be used at LACCD for the following reasons:

Improved Zoom Security: Zoom recently made changes to the default security settings to substantially reduce the chance of classroom disruptions (i.e. “ZoomBombing”.) Also, a “security” button has been added to the host screen to give the host more explicit control over room security.

Minimizing Disruption: An abrupt change from Zoom to another video conferencing solution could have a profoundly disruptive effect on classes that are currently in session. The OIT believes that the risk of using Zoom is relatively low and their security is rapidly improving. Therefore, a change is not advised at this time.

Through the current pandemic, Zoom has grown from 10 million to 200 million users per day, largely due to its open nature, user-friendly features and ease of use. It is used by every UC campus, every Cal State campus, and is provided by the CCC to the community colleges. Its meteoric rise has drawn intense scrutiny of its security and privacy controls by security experts, the media, its competitors, and most unfortunately, hackers and miscreants. Zoom has acknowledged missteps, and is working quickly to improve its security and privacy posture.

Zoom has placed a 90-day moratorium on new features to concentrate solely in improving security and privacy. The District will monitor the progress and subsequent recommendations from the CCC, the State and Federal Departments of Education, and Educause. In the unlikely event the situation degrades, the OIT will advise District leadership with recommendations as appropriate. In the meantime, the OIT will work with Educational Programs and Institutional Effectiveness (EPIE) to update faculty guidance on using Zoom’s new security features.

Should any LACCD employee experience a security incident related to a Zoom conference, please contact your location’s IT department by referring to:

https://www.laccd.edu/Departments/InformationTechnology/Pages/default.aspx.

Please provide the meeting date, time, class or meeting description, and the nature of the incident. The OIT Information Security Office will monitor the reports and advise District leadership as appropriate.

April 9, 2020 - LACCD Emergency Operations Center Safety Advisory
Use of Cloth Face Coverings in Public to Reduce COVID-19 Exposure

Introduction

In order to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 within the City of Los Angeles, a “Public Order under City of Los Angeles Emergency Authority” was issued on April 7, 2020. This “Worker Protection Order” provides instruction to the City’s essential workers that are engaged in “non-medical” activities to wear “non-medical grade cloth face coverings”, which should help curb the spread of COVID-19, by preventing the transmission of respiratory droplets (aerosols) that may contain the virus.

LACCD Requirements

In response to the City of Los Angeles Worker Protection Order, all employees should utilize their mandated cloth face coverings when in public areas within the City. When on District property, all employees must wear cloth face coverings for employee protection against COVID-19 in “low exposure risk” areas (e.g., outdoors and inside of clean buildings). Vendors should also be advised that face coverings are required on campus. This safety advisory is effective April 10, 2020 until further notice.

NOTE: A bulk purchase of disposable face coverings is in progress. Delivery to each campus location may be scheduled within the next week.

Center for Disease Control Recommendations

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

Cloth face coverings are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators (i.e. medical-grade respirators), which are generally reserved for healthcare workers and emergency responders. The District also requires such masks for occupational access to certain buildings that are suspect of recent airborne pathogens exposure (within three days) and/or recent environmental pathogens exposure (within eight days). This guidance is based on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) safe work practices and may be found in the District’s protocol on Cleaning College Facilities for COVID-19 Exposures. In any case, the District remains committed to supporting workplaces that are “safe and healthful” for all employees [Labor Code Section 6403].

https://law.onecle.com/california/labor/6403.html

April 9, 2020 – Reaching IT for Tech Support
For Faculty and Staff Only from District Information Technology

The way for Pierce Faculty and Staff to contact Information Technology for technical support is the email address lapc-techsupport@laccd.edu. This replaces the Jit Bit system for putting in and tracking orders.

In an effort to sustain the District’s operational continuity during the COVID-19 emergency, LACCD will be providing you additional support as noted below. Please read this message and we hope this additional support solution will assist our faculty and staff who may have difficulty accessing LACCD’s technology resources remotely. The quickest way to reach IT for help is using the steps below.

LACCD IT Support Services Overview

The online LACCD Contact Information and Support Overview page can be found on the District’s website at:

http://laccd.edu/Departments/InformationTechnology/Pages/default.aspx

This site is also accessible from the main Home Page for each college. This specific webpage will continue to be updated with additional resources, Frequently Asked Questions, user guides and other technology-related information specifically to help you as we all move into remote education and remote work environments.

LAPC-techsupport@laccd.edu is the email address to use for direct contact to Pierce College. The Hours of Operation for this email service will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. You may submit requests to these email addresses anytime, 24/7, but requests sent outside the posted hours of operation will be logged for next-day attention and response.

The LACCD Information Technology Department is working nonstop to bring us all into an online environment as quickly as possible. All of your IT needs are important to us and we are addressing them as soon as possible.

We apologize for any inconveniences and appreciate your patience and understanding during these unprecedented times as we continue to work with you and to continue to improve our support model for you.

Please remember, this is just a service for faculty and staff only. Please continue to direct all students with questions to call the LAPC Student Support at (818) 464-4410 or email LAPCStudentSupport@laccd.edu.

April 8, 2020 - New At-Home Access Created for Pierce Students in Adobe Creative Cloud
Instructions Sent to All Students from the LACCD

Dear Students,

As a result of campus closure, student access to Adobe Creative Cloud in labs and classrooms is not available. Adobe has provided temporary at-home access for impacted students and faculty, so that they can continue their work remotely. This access is currently available through May 31, 2020. The District IT team has worked to allow for single sign-on for accessing Adobe Creative Cloud.

Please follow the instructions below to enable access to Creative Cloud Desktop Apps on your personal device.

Visit https://creativecloud.adobe.com and use your school credentials to sign in. You will need to use your @student.laccd.edu email account.

You will be redirect to the Microsoft logon to enter your school credentials again.

Enter your @student.laccd.edu again and click Next. You will be redirected to the LACCD logon page.
Enter your LACCD Password to continue.

From the Creative Cloud website, browse for and download your desired app. Click Apps on the top of the page to view all apps.

For more information on how to download or install apps, see Download and Install Creative Cloud apps.

For Higher Education students to continue developing skills, Adobe offers free “Daily Creative Challenges”. These are guided projects where participants receive creative prompts and connect with pros, mentors, and other students for feedback and support. Click on the app name to learn more: Photoshop, XD and Illustrator. Also, for inspiration and over-the-shoulder learning, watch pros share their creative process on Adobe Live daily at www.behance.net/adobelive.

For faculty seeking to engage students during campus closures, Adobe has curated resources to help them discover inspiring projects, best practices, and new ideas so they can continue to drive valuable learning in virtual environments. For more information on Adobe’s distance learning resources please click here.

Regards,

Ryan Cornner, Ed.D
Vice Chancellor for Educational Programs and Institutional Effectiveness

Please visit this HelpX page if you have questions.

April 3, 2020 - L.A. County Opens New Drive-Up Testing Sites, Increasing COVID-19 Testing Capacity for Residents

LA County is ramping up COVID-19 testing sites, opening three additional locations on April 3, 2020 and developing many others countywide. The sites opening April 3 are at the Pomona Fairplex (Gate 17 - W. McKinley/Fairplex Drive), the South Bay Galleria (1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278), and the Antelope Valley Mall (1233 Rancho Vista Blvd., Palmdale, CA 91768). The testing is by appointment only. Walk-up appointments are not available.

Visit coronavirus.lacity.org/Testing. At this time, testing is limited in Los Angeles. We are working to expand testing as quickly as possible to provide this service to all Angelenos who need it.

For the moment, these tests are strictly limited to residents of Los Angeles County who are in the most high-risk categories and most vulnerable.

Individuals eligible for testing at this time include:

Those with symptoms who are 65 and older
Those with symptoms who have underlying chronic health conditions
Those who are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period due to a confirmed COVID-19 exposure (with more than 7 days of quarantine remaining)

For people who prefer not to visit a drive-through test center, there are a limited number of tests available at a walk-in clinic. Select the Carbon Health-Echo Park location on the appointment registration website.

For more questions about testing, please visit our FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions.

Anyone interested in getting tested must first register on the screening website, coronavirus.lacity.org/Testing. This first step determines if people are eligible to be tested. At the website, individuals are asked to answer basic questions including name, date of birth, address, and whether they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing. The website (in real time) determines and confirms an individual’s testing eligibility. Those who receive confirmation of testing eligibility will then be given a selection of testing sites, available appointment times to complete the test registration process. The registration number will be required information at the testing site.

All of the testing locations are “drive-up” — clients stay in their cars for tests (though pedestrian clients with appointments can be tested as well). There are two types of tests: a nasal swab and an oral swab. The nasal swab is administered by trained hospital or fire department staff. The oral swabs are self-administered, meaning clients must swab their own mouths/throats using instructions provided to them at the site. The testing process takes between 5 and 10 minutes, however waiting times may vary. More information and frequently asked questions are available at covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/.

April 2, 2020 – Letter from the LACCD Chancellor on Commencement
One Way or Another, Your Commencement is On

The Chancellor sent our students this initial message about Commencement:

Dear LACCD Students,

I hope this message finds you and your families well. I wanted to provide you with an important update about Commencement 2020.

Graduating Students – your achievements are very important to us and we want you to have the best commencement possible. Under the current health and safety conditions, we all know that a traditional commencement with large crowds is not possible, but a celebration is in the works because you deserve the recognition!

While no specific plans for a virtual, or rescheduled, commencement have been finalized, your special celebration has our full attention and we will be seeking student input. We will provide more information as quickly as possible, but know that one way or another, Your Commencement is On!

Congrats to our Class of 2020!
Salud, fuerza y corazón. Health, strength and heart.

Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor, Los Angeles Community College District

We are the Colleges of Los Angeles!
www.laccd.edu

April 2, 2020 - Information about COVID-19 Testing
From the City of Los Angeles

At this time, testing is limited in Los Angeles. We are working to expand testing as quickly as possible to provide this service to all Angelenos who need it.

For the moment, these tests are strictly limited to residents of Los Angeles County who are in the most high-risk categories and most vulnerable.

You can find out if you are eligible for testing on this webpage: https://lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs

Individuals eligible for testing at this time include:

Those with symptoms who are 65 and older
Those with symptoms who have underlying chronic health conditions
Those who are subject to a mandatory 14 day quarantine period due to a confirmed COVID-19 exposure (with more than 7 days of quarantine remaining)

For people who prefer not to visit a drive-through test center, there are a limited number of tests available at a walk-in clinic. Select the Carbon Health-Echo Park . For more questions about testing, please visit our FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions.

March 30, 2020 - President Montevirgen Welcomes Back Brahma Community

Pierce College Brahma Community,

As classes and student services resume online today I have never been prouder to call Pierce College my home.

Faculty and staff, I thank you for sacrificing your personal time over these last several weeks to bring your classes and departments online and I commend your tireless commitment to being the best at what you do. Your work changes lives and the Pierce College community is forever grateful to you.

Students, thank you for your patience during this transition and for refusing to let the present crisis deter you from your dreams of a brighter future. Now, more than ever, we are counting on you to make that dream come true. To help you during this transition, please know:

If you need a laptop visit the student portal. After logging in, look for the “Financial Aid and Scholarships” icon tile. Click on “Scholarships” and look for the laptop application option.
If you need free WIFI access, visit the Charter Communications website to learn how to apply.
If you have Canvas or technology issues, visit our Pierce Online student resources page.
All counseling, financial aid, admissions and registration for summer and fall, and other student support departments are open, online, to serve you. Click here if you need assistance: http://www.piercecollege.edu/pierce_students.asp.

To keep you updated about the latest COVID-19 developments, we are regularly posting information to the District’s website www.laccd.edu/coronavirus and FAQ page. You are also invited to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news. College specific updates and information can also be found on the Pierce college website at: www.piercecollege.edu.

The unprecedented challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic have impacted our daily lives in ways none of us could ever have imagined. But in this time of uncertainty, one thing has become clear: the critical role community colleges continue to play for our students, our communities, our state and our nation.

The coming months will bring many challenges, but with the support of our amazing faculty and the commitment of our fearless students, we will meet them head on.

We are all in this together. And we will get out of this together, too.

In unity and in health,

Alexis S. Montevirgen, Ed.D.
College President
Los Angeles Pierce College

March 29, 2020 - It's Back to Class for LACCD Students -- The Online Classroom
Full Expansion of FREE NetTutor online help for Students Announced

Tens of thousands of Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) students return to the classroom on Monday, March 30, 2020 -- the online classroom that is!

In the past two weeks since the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools and colleges across the nation to temporarily suspend instruction, including LACCD, the District’s faculty, administration and staff have worked non-stop to shift about 95 percent of all in-classroom courses to an online learning environment, as well as remote work platforms for business operations, to help fight against the community spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

A special “Welcome Back” message from LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D., was released today as part of the outpouring of supportive messages to come from LACCD Board of Trustees President Andra Hoffman, from the College Presidents and others throughout the District to reassure students that the Colleges of Los Angeles are online and ready for them.

“I cannot be more proud of the work by the District’s faculty and staff to serve our students during this public health crisis. It is incredible to think that in just two short weeks, thousands of classes have been moved online, nearly 2,000 faculty have been trained and we are ready to teach and learn in the online world. We know it will not be perfect, but we also know that we are in this together,” Board President Hoffman said.

Chancellor Rodriguez said this has been “a truly historic and amazing all-hands-on-deck moment” for everyone throughout the District’s nine colleges and central office, as every facet of the organization has been impacted. “We are especially grateful to the faculty and staff, all of our employee bargaining units, all of the executive and administrative staff, and all who have pitched in to quickly pivot to virtual learning and work environments. I am truly inspired and awed. It is a real testament to the talent, fierce dedication and will of this organization to serve and educate students.”

Chancellor Rodriguez announced also today that the District is significantly expanding the line-up of classroom subjects available now for students completely FREE via NetTutor online.

Subjects now offered include Accounting, Administrative of Justice, Anatomy and Physiology, Anthropology, Astronomy, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Child Development, Communications and Speech, Computer Science and IT, Economics, English and Literature, ESL, Finance, French, FYE & College Student Success, Geology, German, History, Human Geography, Italian, Logic, Math (Algebra, Basic Math and Pre-Calculus), Math (Calculus and above), Math (Statistics and Probability), Music, Nursing and Health, Philosophy, Physical Geography, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish and Writing.

Tutoring subjects depend on what classes each college offers its students. The colleges include Los Angeles City College, East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, Los Angeles Valley College and West Los Angeles College.

Other Important Reminders for All Students:

The colleges remain physically closed, but open online! There are no in-person student services available at the colleges, except for DSPS by scheduled appointment only.
All Student Services are online, including Financial Aid, DSPS/OSS, EOP&S, Admissions & Records, International Student Center and Counseling that respond to questions using instant messaging with virtual chat on your student portal.
Student Help Desk Available. If students need password, login or navigation help on the student portal, MyCollege.laccd.edu, call the LAPC Student Support at (818) 464-4410 or email LAPCStudentSupport@laccd.edu.
Summer Session is just around the corner and it will be all online! Stay enrolled for this important term. More details soon about registration schedules for students

If students have not done so already, all LACCD students are advised to click on the ”Getting Started” link at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-18585-getting-started-with-canvas-as-a-student and to also review the online student guide for Canvas at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10701-canvas-student-guide-table-of-contents.

The California Community College’s California Virtual Campus-Online Education Initiative (OEI) is covering the NetTutor costs while instruction is taught online due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The District is now working on plans for classes that did not convert online, with a projected resumption date of Monday, May 4, 2020. Only about 175 classes could not be shifted under the current health restrictions and social distancing orders. The Chancellor has directed an update on this action no later than April 17 2020 and updated information shared as soon as possible.

Early Withdrawal & Refunds for Students
State authority has been granted to allow students to withdraw from classes because of the current crisis. If a student wants to withdraw, the student will receive an excused withdrawal (EW) on their transcript. The EW will not count against a student’s academic progress requirements and appropriate refunds will be made. All Students are encouraged to stay enrolled, but if they decided to do so, they need to contact their education counselors and financial aid office now.

All updated information will continue to be posted on the District’s website: www.laccd.edu/coronavirus including an updated Frequently Asked Questions and information in Spanish. Additional information is on the District’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LACCD/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/laccd. California Community College is at: https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Chancellors-Office/Divisions/Communications-and-Marketing/Novel-Coronavirus

Prevention and Hygiene recommendations from LACDPH continues to be:

If you are sick for any reason, stay home!
Call your doctor or healthcare provider for direction
Follow all Health Orders, including the “Safer at Home” order from state and local officials
Symptoms to watch for include a fever over 100.4 degrees; cough or shortness of breath
Frequent and complete hand washing for at least 20 seconds
Stay six feet or more away from strangers and those who are ill
Stop shaking hands with others to reduce the spread of germs
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Sneeze and cough into a tissue or your sleeve, safely throw away used tissues

March 26, 2020 - New Protocol for Staff Regarding COVID-19 Exposure Incidents

Any staff that has positive for COVID-19 OR is experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 exposure must report the incident immediately to their supervisor. Any staff that has a co-worker who contacts them about testing positive for COVID-19 or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should also reported to their supervisor.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the current symptoms include:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

The CDC’s “emergency warning signs” of coronavirus includes:

Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion or inability to arouse
Bluish lips or face

Initial Supervisor Response to Report from a Co-Worker Related to COVID-19

If an employee reports to you that they have tested positive for COVID-19, or a coworker informs you that one of their co-worker tested positive for COVID-19 give the affected employee the following information:

Immediately home isolate
Call your doctor or healthcare provider for further direction
Continue to monitor your symptoms closely and seek medical care as soon as possible if symptoms get worse
Keep in contact with their immediate supervisor with updates on your condition
Encourage them to make arrangements with their supervisor for any special needs or help
Remind them to contact with, and remain in contact with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
If they are having difficulty breathing or keeping fluids down, go to an emergency room, urgent care, or call 911

Further Guidance to Supervisor

If an employee reports to you that they have not tested for COVID-19, but are experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, including fever, cough and/or difficulty breathing, the instructor will give the following instructions to the student:

Immediately home isolate
Call your doctor or healthcare provider for direction
Monitor your symptoms closely and seek medical care as soon as possible if symptoms get worse · Keep in contact with your supervisor with updates on your condition
Encourage them to make arrangements with their supervisor for any special needs or help
Call your doctor if you have had close contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19
Stay informed with official information from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
If you are having difficulty breathing or keeping fluids down, go to an emergency room, urgent care, or call 911

Supervisor’s Steps To Informing Other Employees

If an employee has been in the office or workplace environment within 14 days of reporting to you of experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or has tested positive, you should tell other co-workers who may also be impacted:

“A co-worker in our (INSERT NAME OF Department/division, workplace environment, NOT co-worker’s name) is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (OR INSERT “has tested positive for COVID-19”) and you may have been exposed to the virus. Please monitor yourself for symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever and dry cough. In an abundance of caution, it is recommended that you voluntarily self-quarantine and make arrangements with your supervisor for any work projects or assignments to be done remotely. If you experience any symptoms, please call your doctor before going in to seek care. Additional information is available at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/.”

Any staff member who has a co-worker reporting a positive test for, or experiencing symptoms of, COVID-19 should follow the same instructions given to employee if they have been in contact with the employee within the past 14 days. Namely, they should home isolate for 14 days and carefully self-monitor for symptoms, and call their doctor for direction. The staff member should also immediately inform their direct supervisor so that any additional notifications can be sent as needed.

March 23, 2020 - New Protocol for Faculty Regarding COVID-19 Exposure Incidents
From the LACCD

Any instructor that has a student who contacts them about testing positive for COVID-19 OR is experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 exposure must report the incident immediately to the Office of the President, the phone numbers for all Presidents are online at www.laccd.edu/coronavirus.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the current symptoms include:
 Fever
 Cough
 Shortness of breath

The CDC’s “emergency warning signs” of coronavirus includes:
 Trouble breathing
 Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
 New confusion or inability to arouse
 Bluish lips or face

Initial Faculty Response to Report from Student Related to COVID-19

If a student reports to a faculty member that they have tested positive for COVID-19, the instructor will give the following instructions to the student:

 Immediately home isolate
 Call your doctor or healthcare provider for further direction
 Continue to monitor your symptoms closely and seek medical care as soon as possible if symptoms get worse
 Keep in contact with your instructor with updates on your condition
 Make arrangements with your instructor for class accommodations
 Make sure you immediately get in contact with, and remain in contact with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
 If you are having difficulty breathing or keeping fluids down, go to an emergency room, urgent care, or call 911

Further Guidance to Faculty Member

If a student reports to a faculty member that they have not tested for COVID-19, but are experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, including fever, cough and/or difficulty breathing, the instructor will give the following instructions to the student:

 Immediately home isolate
 Call your doctor or healthcare provider for direction
 Monitor your symptoms closely and seek medical care as soon as possible if symptoms get worse
 Keep in contact with your instructor with updates on your condition
 Make arrangements with your instructor for class accommodations
 Call your doctor if you have had close contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19
 If you are having difficulty breathing or keeping fluids down, go to an emergency room, urgent care, or call 911

Steps To Informing Other Students

If the student has been in a classroom within 14 days of reporting to their instructor of experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or has tested positive, the instructor will inform other students with the following message:

“A student in our (INSERT NAME OF CLASS, NOT STUDENT) class is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (OR INSERT “has tested positive for COVID-19”) and you may have been exposed to the virus. Please monitor yourself for symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever and dry cough. In an abundance of caution, it is recommended that you voluntarily self-quarantine and make arrangements with me for class accommodations. If you experience any symptoms, please call your doctor before going in to seek care. Additional information is available at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/.”

Any instructor who has a student reporting a positive test for, or experiencing symptoms of, COVID-19 should follow the same instructions given to students if they have been in contact with the student within the past 14 days. Namely, they should home isolate for 14 days and carefully self-monitor for symptoms, and call their doctor for direction. The instructor should also immediately inform their direct supervisor so that the college can send out further notifications as needed.

March 21, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President Montevirgen
Re: Campus Access

Colleagues,

Following the “safer at home” order, we are establishing a temporary protocol that limits regular access to the campus to only those employees who are deemed essential for business continuity. However, some faculty and staff may need to get back into their offices to pick up necessary paperwork and instructional materials.

The Los Angeles Sherriff’s Department (LASD) will assist us in monitoring access. We will have LASD personnel at a designated entrance point from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at least through April 18. We are working with our LASD team to identify where to enter and we will have more details developed by end of day, Monday, March 23, 2020.

If you are working remotely and coming to pick up or drop off items, the following protocol will be followed:

When you come to campus you must be checked in by LASD personnel at the entrance point (Winnetka entrance).
You will need to identify yourself and the building you will enter entering.
Please limit your stay in your office to a maximum of one hour. If you must stay longer, please make arrangements with your supervisor, who will then confirm with the Sheriff’s Department. Please note that "staying longer" does not mean spending a regular work day in your office. The goal is for you to pick up your materials and immediately leave campus.
While you are in the building to quickly pick up materials, please refrain from using the restrooms. We are sanitizing the facilities and we do not want our custodians to have to do double the work.

Thanks for your adherence to this temporary protocol.

In unity and in health,

Alexis S. Montevirgen, Ed.D.
College President
Los Angeles Pierce College

NOTE: As this situation is constantly changing and evolving, the below message is current as of 4:00 PM on Thursday, March 19, 2020.

March 19, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President Montevirgen
Re: State of Emergency Declared at LACCD

Colleagues,

The college has been engaging in a tremendous amount of work over the last few days in our goal of transitioning to remote operations, and I want to give you the latest information on how Los Angeles Pierce College is seeking to limit any potential transmission of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in accordance with the changing recommendations and guidelines from local, state, and Federal authorities. We remain steadfast in staying the course to make these transitions as smooth as possible for the entire campus community in this time of upheaval to our normal operations. I want to thank each of you for your continued patience and understanding as we undertake this unprecedented transition.

Last night in another emergency meeting, the LACCD Board of Trustees passed a resolution to declare a State of Emergency for the District and its nine colleges. This action allows the Chancellor to activate the District Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate with the colleges for resources, business operations, security and other issues during the declared emergency in a streamlined and efficient manner. The District EOC as well as Incident Command Centers (ICCs) at each of the colleges have been activated.

We are uniquely positioned to ramp up our campus Incident Command Center because we have four Pierce COVID-19 Response Team sub-groups in place, and these teams have already been meeting all this week.

We have held numerous meetings with the Pierce College COVID-19 Response Teams, made up of 36 faculty, staff, and students who represent broad participation from our constituencies.
As of now, we are moving not only classes, but business operations and services to remote delivery.
Our Response Teams parallel the four District Response Teams, made up of (A) Health and Safety, (B) Business and Staff Continuity, (C) Academic and Student Continuity, and (D) General Communications.
Several of our faculty and staff are serving on both District and Pierce Response Teams

As we continue to make progress under these teams we will be sharing out information and doing our best to mitigate problems that arise.

We are moving very quickly to transition to delivering all services remotely per the direction of the District COVID-19 Response Team guidance this morning. Some of these efforts include:

Working with the District and our sister colleges to be as consistent and transparent as we can during this crisis, seeking to achieve and communicate in a unified voice.
Our website is being updated to reflect Faculty and Staff, Student, and District COVID-19 updates on a new landing page you will be able to access from our home page.
We are working with the District to get more supplies, from cleaning supplies/chemicals all the way to laptops and webcams. Today the first 50 Chromebooks are being delivered from the District for Pierce faculty and staff use and we are beginning to coordinate the distribution of these items.

In order to provide more regular updates to the campus community, we will be scheduling regular public zoom meetings where members of the campus community can join in to get the most current updates directly from the College President and the co-chairs of the four campus response teams. The first of these public zoom meetings will be scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, March 20^th at noon. More information on how to join these zoom meetings will be posted as soon as those details are available.

We are continually monitoring the COVID-19 situation and are working closely with district, county, state, and Federal authorities. We encourage you to view status updates at www.laccd.edu, as well as a direct link to the district-wide Coronavirus/COVID-19 webpage from the Pierce College website (www.piercecollege.edu).

In unity and in health,

Alexis S. Montevirgen, Ed.D.
College President
Los Angeles Pierce College

NOTE: As this situation is constantly changing and evolving, the below message is current as of 4:20 PM on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

March 15, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President Montevirgen
Re: First Priority is Safety; Transition to Working Remotely

Colleagues,

Faculty and staff members should come to work tomorrow, Monday, as we determine who needs to remain on campus, who can work remotely, and who can eventually telecommute (with the goal of shifting as many people to working remotely/telecommuting as soon as possible). Until we are able to get to that point, we will attempt to incorporate social distancing guidelines in each office, and we will move as quickly as possible towards the spirit of the Chancellor’s messages and the Board’s action of moving to remote operations. Further, faculty and staff training will continue as planned, but will be expanded to provide more opportunities throughout the entire week.

Please also know that our facilities and custodial staff are doing their best to ensure that during this time, our facilities are continually monitored and clean for those who are on campus. The disinfecting of all buildings (including bathrooms) is already in-process, and we are using a special 360 disinfection spray machine for this. Facilities staff will also be taking advantage of the opportunity with reduced student traffic over these next few weeks to complete the disinfecting process as well as the shampooing of carpets and other general facilities cleaning.

If you have not had a chance to read the thorough coverage by our student newspaper of yesterday’s Emergency Board of Trustees meeting, I encourage you to read it here:

https://theroundupnews.com/2020/03/14/emergency-meeting-of-the-laccd-board/

Kudos to student reporter Arielle Zolezzi and the entire RoundUp team for covering the emergency meeting and even live-streaming the event through social media as it was taking place.

I want to echo and underscore the comments made by District Academic Senate President Angela Echeverri in the article, “I think the first priority is safety. We are concerned about instructional continuity and services, but number one is safety,” Echeverri said. “Things have changed so quickly, especially within the last 24 hours that we are in a whole new paradigm. So we need time to transition while being able to provide the education and services that students deserve and need ”

I also understand that many of you continue to have critical and important questions and concerns. Please continue to forward those on to us but please also understand that a good number of your questions and concerns, unfortunately, cannot be fully answered yet. We are working as fast as we can to get you the answers to your questions.

A link to the district’s Updated COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information webpage can be found directly from our main Pierce College website, www.pierceollege.edu, and I ask you all to continue to visit the site frequently for the most current updates and information. Attached you will also find a district news release from earlier today.

In closing, we must continue to rely on each other to demonstrate kindness, empathy, and professionalism, especially during this time of crisis. In turn, our students are relying on us to support them and provide a safe and secure learning environment, whether that be in-person or remotely. I truly appreciate your commitment and flexibility as we gear up for a very intense effort to bring our college into remote operations. I value and appreciate all of you as we continue to navigate this constantly evolving and changing situation.

In unity and in health,

Alexis S. Montevirgen, Ed.D.
College President
Los Angeles Pierce College

March 14, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President Montevirgen
Re: Four Key Actions Taken at LACCD Board of Trustees Emergency Meeting

Colleagues,

By now, many of you should have received the latest update from District Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez in regards to the Board of Trustees taking action at an emergency meeting held this afternoon to:

Suspend all classes Monday, March 16 through Sunday, March 29.
Move the District’s Spring Break to run Monday, March 23 through Sunday, March 29 instead of the currently scheduled break, April 6-11.
Suspend in-person services at the colleges, March 16-28. During this time, there will be many offices at the colleges that will also be closed to the public and some staff will begin to work remotely throughout this period with supervisorial approval.
Begin remote learning (online education) and remote business operations on Monday, March 30 through the end of the spring semester.

Prior to their deliberations on this matter, the Board of Trustees received and heard public comment from numerous members of the various constituency groups including leadership from district and college Academic Senates as well as faculty and staff representing the various collective bargaining units across the district.

This decision was not made easily, and it was clear that no decision or option before the Board would come without any unintended disruption or inconvenience. However, the Board’s focus continued to be on how to address the health, safety, and wellbeing of all its constituents while also ensuring that the continuity and ability for the district to deliver on its educational commitment was preserved.

We are definitely not alone in our situation, as many of our neighboring K-12 districts, colleges, and universities are facing similar decisions. In fact, we are seeing this occurring not just locally, but throughout the country and throughout the world given the unprecedented nature of the global pandemic we are currently facing.

At the campus level, I am grateful to have had the participation of a broad group of campus colleagues when I convened a COVID-19 Campus Update Team last Monday to bring folks together to discuss how we would be responding to COVID-19 as a campus. The events of just the last few days since that meeting, and how fast the situation has evolved and changed almost as quickly as from one minute to the next, is something that I do not believe anyone could have predicted, which is also why our Board of Trustees ended up needing to hold its emergency meeting this afternoon.

The COVID-19 Campus Update Team, with the following current membership, and modeled after the District’s COVID-19 Response Team structure, will meet again on Monday to be brought up to speed on today’s board action and we will be sure to share more information with the campus after our meeting. (Specific team assignments are not set in stone, and there may still be some movement and additions.)

Team A: Health and Safety

Rodney Allen
Beth Benne
Melody Cooper
Paul Nieman
Nick Saldivar
Lazaro Sanchez

Team B: Business Continuity/Technology

Kristine Ayvazyan
Sharon Baker
Gerald Doucette
Mark Henderson
Suleman Ishaque
Miguel Montanez
Fernando Oleas
Bruce Rosky

Team C: Continuity of Academic/Student Operations

Barbara Anderson
Wendy Bass
Sheri Berger
Katya Castillo
Earic Dixon-Peters
Curt Duffy
Michael Gend
Brian Gendron
Brandon Le
Brian Walsh

Team D: General Communications (*denotes also on another team)

Barbara Anderson*
Juan Carlos Astorga
Beth Benne*
Doreen Clay
Mary Anne Gavarra-Oh
Malina Koani
Will Marmolejo
Rolf Schleicher

In closing, I again want to acknowledge and thank each of you for your commitment to our campus community, and I ask for your continued patience and understanding as we, together, get through this unprecedented situation that we face. I also know that many of you continue to have questions and concerns which we do not necessarily have the answers for at the moment. Know that we will continue to work together to try and get ourselves through this. I am confident that Pierce College will be able to make it through this together!

In unity and in health,

Alexis S. Montevirgen, Ed.D.
College President
Los Angeles Pierce College

March 9, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President Montevirgen
Re: Notification about Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Dear Los Angeles Pierce College Students, Faculty and Staff,

As the President of Los Angeles Pierce College, nothing is more important to me than the safety and wellbeing of our college community.

In that spirit of concern, I want to share with you that on Saturday, March 7, the college received word that five Pierce College students were part of the 20,000 people who attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington, D.C., March 1-3, 2020. Health officials have announced that there are three confirmed positive tests among attendees of the conference for the 2019 novel coronavirus, including two in New York and a third case of COVID-19 announced this weekend by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has NOT notified Pierce College with any concerns connecting our students or campus environment in connection with either the New York or Los Angeles cases.

It is important that you hear these facts directly from me, rather than through rumors or speculation. I also encourage you to read the Health Department’s full statement about this new case concerning the LA county resident online at:

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/phcommon/public/media/mediapubhpdetail.cfm?prid=2256

Specifically, the Health Department announced in connection with this new case:

“Public Health is identifying persons who may have had close personal contact with this individual, including any friends, family members or health care professionals, to assess and monitor them for signs and symptoms of illness has begun. All confirmed cases are isolated and close contacts are quarantined for 14 days from last exposure. There are no known public exposure locations related to this case.”

We have already reached out to our students and none of them have reported to us that they were contacted by Public Health in connection with the social tracking history of the confirmed case or to be placed in quarantine. They have told us they are healthy and are following the previously announced guidelines that all of us should be using for personal hygiene.

Remember, the most important things we all can do right now is:

frequently wash your hands with soap and water;
if you are sick, stay home;
cover coughs and sneezes;
avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, especially with unwashed hands;
stay calm and stay informed.Go to the County’s Public Health website for more information about coronavirus and COVID-19 at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/.

If you have specific college-related questions about this situation please call my office at (818) 719-6408. For health services related concerns, please visit the Student Health Center on campus or call (818) 710-4270.

In unity and in health,

Alexis

---

Alexis S. Montevirgen, Ed.D.
College President
Los Angeles Pierce College

March 30, 2020 - President Montevirgen Welcomes Back Brahma Community

Pierce College Brahma Community,

As classes and student services resume online today I have never been prouder to call Pierce College my home.

If you need a laptop visit the student portal. After logging in, look for the “Financial Aid and Scholarships” icon tile. Click on “Scholarships” and look for the laptop application option.
If you need free WIFI access, visit the Charter Communications website to learn how to apply.
If you have Canvas or technology issues, visit our Pierce Online student resources page.
All counseling, financial aid, admissions and registration for summer and fall, and other student support departments are open, online, to serve you. Click here if you need assistance: http://www.piercecollege.edu/pierce_students.asp.

The coming months will bring many challenges, but with the support of our amazing faculty and the commitment of our fearless students, we will meet them head on.

We are all in this together. And we will get out of this together, too.

In unity and in health,

Alexis S. Montevirgen, Ed.D.
College President
Los Angeles Pierce College

March 29, 2020 - It's Back to Class for LACCD Students -- The Online Classroom

Full Expansion of FREE NetTutor online help for Students Announced

The colleges remain physically closed, but open online! There are no in-person student services available at the colleges, except for DSPS by scheduled appointment only.
All Student Services are online, including Financial Aid, DSPS/OSS, EOP&S, Admissions & Records, International Student Center and Counseling that respond to questions using instant messaging with virtual chat on your student portal.
Student Help Desk Available. If students need password, login or navigation help on the student portal, MyCollege.laccd.edu, call the LAPC Student Support at (818) 464-4410 or email LAPCStudentSupport@laccd.edu.
Summer Session is just around the corner and it will be all online! Stay enrolled for this important term. More details soon about registration schedules for students

. Only about 175 classes could not be shifted under the current health restrictions and social distancing orders. The Chancellor has directed an update on this action no later than April 17 2020 and updated information shared as soon as possible.

Early Withdrawal & Refunds for Students
State authority has been granted to allow students to withdraw from classes because of the current crisis. If a student wants to withdraw, the student will receive an excused withdrawal (EW) on their transcript. The EW will not count against a student’s academic progress requirements and appropriate refunds will be made

. All Students are encouraged to stay enrolled, but if they decided to do so, they need to contact their education counselors and financial aid office now.

All updated information will continue to be posted on the District’s website: www.laccd.edu/coronavirus including an updated Frequently Asked Questions and information in Spanish. Additional information is on the District’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LACCD/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/laccd. California Community College is at: https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Chancellors-Office/Divisions/Communications-and-Marketing/Novel-Coronavirus

Prevention and Hygiene recommendations from LACDPH continues to be:

If you are sick for any reason, stay home!
Call your doctor or healthcare provider for direction
Follow all Health Orders, including the “Safer at Home” order from state and local officials
Symptoms to watch for include a fever over 100.4 degrees; cough or shortness of breath
Frequent and complete hand washing for at least 20 seconds
Stay six feet or more away from strangers and those who are ill
Stop shaking hands with others to reduce the spread of germs
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Sneeze and cough into a tissue or your sleeve, safely throw away used tissues

Pierce COVID-19 Faculty & Staff Updates

Important Pierce Faculty & Staff Updates During COVID-19

March 19, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President MontevirgenRe: State of Emergency Declared at LACCD

March 15, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President MontevirgenRe: First Priority is Safety; Transition to Working Remotely

March 14, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President MontevirgenRe: Four Key Actions Taken at LACCD Board of Trustees Emergency Meeting

March 19, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President Montevirgen
Re: State of Emergency Declared at LACCD

March 15, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President Montevirgen
Re: First Priority is Safety; Transition to Working Remotely

March 14, 2020 - Message to Pierce College Community from President Montevirgen
Re: Four Key Actions Taken at LACCD Board of Trustees Emergency Meeting